Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Alipiri at Tirumala Hills (Tirupati to Tirumala on Foot)

Alipiri at Tirumala Hills (Tirupati to Tirumala on Foot)

For those of you who would like to climb the hills to Tirumala to
fulfil a vow, there are two well-laid stone footpaths leading to
Tirumala. These paths are called sopanamargas.
The more ancient of the two sopanamargas which starts from Alipiri at
the foot of the hills, is about 11 km in length, and is the
commonly-used route.
Token facility is provided for pedestrian who come on foot to Tirumala through Gali Gopuram or Srivari Mettu.
Bio-Metric counters are established on these foot paths, to
facilitate free darshan, free accommodation (P.A.C.) and free food
facilities at Tirumala.TTD provides following facilities to pilgrims who walk up the hills to Tirumala.

Transportation of luggage, free of cost, to Tirumala. Pilgrims will
be given a token when they deposit their luggage at any of the
choultries in Tirupati, or at the Toll Gate in Alipiri. They can take
delivery of their luggage at the Central Reception Office Counter at
Tirumala.

Drinking water along the footpath.

Toilets

Shelters at important points along the way for resting .

Constant patrol by security forces to prevent pilgrims from being cheated or robbed by unscrupulous elements.

Relay of religious programmes through the local broadcasting system .

Twenty-four hour medical assistance all along the route .

Canteens that supply refreshments.

APSRTC runs free buses from the Tirupati Railway station to Alipiri,
with a frequency of 30 minutes. Pilgrims who intend to walk up the hills
to Tirumala can use these buses.